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Lesson 3 Buddhism and India’s Golden Age MAIN IDEAS Belief System A teacher called the Buddha developed a new religion that focused on helping people to escape suffering. Government The Maurya rulers united northern India into the first great Indian empire. Culture About 500 years after Asoka’s death, a new ruler united northern India and began a golden age of culture. The Rise of Buddhism ESSENTIAL QUESTION What are the main teachings of the religion of Buddhism? Jainism • Jainism also began in India; religion teaches ahimsa—“nonviolence” - Jains believe all living things have souls and should not be hurt The Buddha’s Life and Teachings • Buddhism began in India, based on teachings of Siddhartha Gautama • Siddhartha was 5th-century B.C. Hindu prince, born in wealth, luxury - gave up wealth when he saw suffering; began a search for peace • Siddhartha starved self for six years, then meditated under fig tree • Found understanding, insight into reality called Four Noble Truths: - people suffer because minds are not at ease - unease, suffering come from wanting things or a different life - people can stop suffering by not wanting - people can stop wanting by following Eightfold Path • Eightfold Path means having correct opinions, desires, speech - also having right actions, job, effort, concentration, meditation • Eightfold Path can lead to nirvana—the end of suffering - nirvana breaks cycle of reincarnation, which Buddhists believe in • As a teacher, Siddhartha was called the Buddha, or “enlightened one” - believed in ahimsa, but not Hindu gods, goddesses, caste system Chapter 7: Ancient India World History: Ancient Civilizations 1 Buddhism Changes • After Buddhaʼs death, followers collected teachings, called the dharma - dharma means true nature of things, often symbolized by wheel • Monks, nuns in religious communities made Buddhism a formal religion • Some Buddhists became wandering holy men, tried to live like Buddha • Buddhism later split into branches—most worshiped Buddha as a god - different branches stressed different approaches to enlightenment REVIEW QUESTION How could a Buddhist achieve an end to suffering? Chapter 7: Ancient India World History: Ancient Civilizations 2 The Maurya Empire ESSENTIAL QUESTION How did the Maurya rulers unite northern India into the first great Indian empire? A United India • Separate Aryan kingdoms battled each other for centuries • Around 550 B.C., northeastern Magadha kingdom gained strength • Chandragupta Maurya became king of Magadha around 321 B.C. - conquered land, spread Maurya Empire over much of subcontinent - kept control with spies, army; taxed land, crops to pay officials - legend says he became nonviolent Jainist monk at end of life Asoka, the Buddhist King • Asoka—Chandraguptaʼs grandson, greatest Maurya king - began rule in 269 B.C., fought bloody war to take nearby kingdom - later gave up warfare, ruled peacefully by Buddhist teachings, law • Carved policies of nonviolence, truth, kindness on rocks, pillars • Sent missionaries to spread Buddhism, but allowed other religions • Improved travel by building wells, hospitals, rest houses by roads Changes to Hinduism • Priests conducted early Hinduismʼs complex sacrifices in Sanskrit - few people spoke Sanskrit; felt distant from gods; turned to Buddhism • Hindu thought changed in A.D. 600s; hymns written in common languages - poems of joy, love became popular and renewed love for Hindu gods • Buddhism declined in India as Hinduism underwent revival - however, Buddhism had already spread to other Asian countries REVIEW QUESTION What were some of Asoka’s accomplishments? Chapter 7: Ancient India World History: Ancient Civilizations 3 The Golden Age of the Guptas ESSENTIAL QUESTION Who were the Guptas, and when did they rule India? The Gupta Empire • After Asoka, collapse of Maurya Empire led to 500 years of conflict • Magadhaʼs Gupta family took over—Chandra Gupta I began rule A.D. 320 - Gupta I gained lands through marriage; son conquered lands for empire • India had golden age during reign of Chandra Gupta II, A.D. 375-415 Art and Literature • Arts (architecture, murals, statues) thrived under Chandra Gupta II • Kalidasaʼs famed Sanskrit plays, poems include Sakuntala love story Mathematics, Science, and Metallurgy • Indians invented our numeral and decimal systems, symbol for zero • A mathematician figured length of year, value of pi • Doctors expanded Ayurvedic medicine, worldʼs oldest medical system • Artisans developed advanced metallurgy (metal working) - included 23-foot iron pillar over Delhi in A.D. 400 - no others made a piece of iron as large until 1,000 years later Trade Spreads Indian Culture • Gupta India profited from foreign trade by selling cotton, ivory - bought items such as silk from China; resold to traders going west • Traders and missionaries spread Indian culture, beliefs - Hinduism spread to parts of Southeast Asia - Buddhism spread to Central Asia, Sri Lanka, China, Southeast Asia REVIEW QUESTION Why was the period of Gupta rule a golden age for India? Chapter 7: Ancient India World History: Ancient Civilizations 4 Lesson Summary • A new religion called Buddhism taught people to escape suffering by following a path of right living. • Influenced by Buddhism, King Asoka tried to rule with peace, law, and good works. • Under Gupta rule, India had a golden age. The arts, science, metallurgy, and trade prospered. Why It Matters Now . . . The spread of Hinduism and Buddhism shaped Asian cultures. Many Asian people still practice those religions today. Chapter 7: Ancient India World History: Ancient Civilizations 5